Laccase variants with improved properties

ABSTRACT

This application relates to laccase variants and uses thereof as eco-friendly biocatalysts in various industrial processes. More in particular, the disclosure relates to a polypeptide with laccase activity comprising an amino acid sequence that is at least 75% identical to the amino acid sequence according to SEQ ID NO: 1, wherein the polypeptide comprises an amino acid residue selected from the group consisting of threonine, proline, alanine, glycine, serine, cysteine, aspartic acid, asparagine and valine at a position corresponding to amino acid 149 of SEQ ID NO: 1.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a national phase entry under 35 U.S.C. § 371 of International Patent Application PCT/EP2015/057917, filed Apr. 11, 2015, designating the United States of America and published in English as International Patent Publication WO 2015/155363 A1 on Oct. 15, 2015, which claims the benefit under Article 8 of the Patent Cooperation Treaty to European Patent Application Serial No. 14164498.9, filed Apr. 11, 2014.

STATEMENT ACCORDING TO 37 C.F.R. § 1.821(c) or (e)—SEQUENCE LISTING SUBMITTED AS ASCII TEXT FILE

Pursuant to 37 C.F.R. § 1.821(c) or (e), a file containing an ASCII text version of the Sequence Listing has been submitted concomitant with this application, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This application relates to laccase variants and uses thereof as eco-friendly biocatalysts in various industrial processes.

BACKGROUND

Laccases (EC 1.10.3.2) are enzymes having a wide taxonomic distribution and belonging to the group of multicopper oxidases. Laccases are eco-friendly catalysts that use molecular oxygen from air to oxidize various phenolic and non-phenolic lignin-related compounds as well as highly recalcitrant environmental pollutants, and produce water as the only side-product. These natural “green” catalysts are used for diverse industrial applications including the detoxification of industrial effluents, mostly from the paper and pulp, textile and petrochemical industries, and used as bioremediation agent to clean up herbicides, pesticides and certain explosives in soil. Laccases are also used as cleaning agents for certain water purification systems. In addition, their capacity to remove xenobiotic substances and produce polymeric products makes them a useful tool for bioremediation purposes. Another large proposed application area of laccases is biomass pretreatment in biofuel and in the pulp and paper industries.

Laccase molecules are usually monomers consisting of three consecutively connected cupredoxin-like domains twisted in a tight globule. The active site of laccases contains four copper ions: a mononuclear “blue” copper ion (T1 site) and a three-nuclear copper cluster (T2/T3 site) consisting of one T2 copper ion and two T3 copper ions.

Laccases may be isolated from different sources such as plants, fungi or bacteria and are very diverse in primary sequences. However, they have some conserved regions in the sequences and certain common features in their three-dimensional structures. A comparison of sequences of more than 100 laccases has revealed four short conservative regions (no longer than 10 aa each), which are specific for all laccases.^([7, 8]) One cysteine and ten histidine residues form a ligand environment of copper ions of the laccase active site present in these four conservative amino acid sequences.

The best studied bacterial laccase is CotA laccase. CotA is a component of the outer coat layers of bacillus endospore. It is a 65-kDa protein encoded by the CotA gene.^([1])

CotA belongs to a diverse group of multi-copper “blue” oxidases that includes the laccases. This protein demonstrates high thermostability, and resistance to various hazardous elements in accordance with the survival abilities of the endospore.

Recombinant protein expression in easily cultivatable hosts can allow higher productivity in a shorter time and reduces the costs of production. The versatility and scaling-up possibilities of the recombinant protein production opened up new commercial opportunities for their industrial uses. Moreover, protein production from pathogenic or toxin-producing species can take advantage of safer or even GRAS (generally recognized as safe) microbial hosts. In addition, protein engineering can be employed to improve the stability, activity and/or specificity of an enzyme; thus, tailor made enzymes can be produced to suit the requirement of the users or of the process.

Enzyme productivity can be increased by the use of multiple gene copies, strong promoters and efficient signal sequences, properly designed to address proteins to the extracellular medium, thus simplifying downstream processing.

Recombinant protein yield in bacterial hosts is often limited by the inability of the protein to fold into correct 3D-structure upon biosynthesis of the polypeptide chain. This may cause exposure of hydrophobic patches on the surface of the protein globule and result in protein aggregation. Mechanisms of heterologous protein folding in vivo are poorly understood, and foldability of different proteins in bacteria is unpredictable.

Yield of soluble active protein can sometimes be improved by changing cultivation conditions. In addition, there are examples when protein yield was improved by introducing single-point mutations in the protein sequence. However, no rationale has been identified behind finding suitable mutations.

Heterologous expression of laccase in Escherichia coli has often been used as a strategy to get around the problem of obtaining laccases that are not easily producible in natural hosts. The recombinant expression of Bacillus subtilis CotA in E. coli has allowed its deep characterization, structure solving, and functional evolution.^([1, 2, 3]) However, very often, the production yield is low, due to a strong tendency of this enzyme to form aggregates that renders the protein irreversibly inactive.^([4]) This tendency has been attributed to the fact that, in nature, CotA laccase is integrated in a spore coat structure via interaction with other protein components, and it is likely that correct laccase folding is enhanced by interaction with other proteins. When this laccase is recombinantly expressed as an individual polypeptide, those supporting interactions are missing and many miss-folded proteins form aggregates in bacterial cells. When expressed in higher microorganisms such as yeast, misfolded laccase molecules are, for a large part, degraded.

There is a need in the art for means and methods for improving the yield of laccases in heterologous expression systems. This is particularly true for bacterial laccases, such as CotA laccases.

BRIEF SUMMARY

This disclosure addresses this need in that it provides variant laccases with improved properties. More in particular, the disclosure relates to a polypeptide with laccase activity comprising an amino acid sequence that is at least 75% identical to the amino acid sequence according to SEQ ID NO: 1, wherein the polypeptide comprises a small amino acid residue selected from the group consisting of threonine, proline, alanine, glycine, serine, cysteine, aspartic acid, asparagine and valine at an amino acid position corresponding to position 149 in SEQ ID NO: 1.

A threonine residue at a position corresponding to amino acid 149 of SEQ ID NO: 1 is preferred.

In addition, the disclosure provides improved nucleic acids, vectors and compositions encoding the variant laccase enzymes according to the disclosure.

The disclosure also provides recombinant heterologous expression systems such as host cells comprising a nucleic acid, a vector or a composition according to the disclosure.

Also provided herein are methods for producing a polypeptide according to the disclosure, comprising the steps of:

-   -   a. culturing a recombinant host cell comprising a polynucleotide         according to the disclosure under conditions suitable for the         production of the polypeptide, and     -   b. recovering the polypeptide obtained, and     -   c. optionally purifying the polypeptide.

The disclosure also relates to the use of a polypeptide according to the disclosure in an application selected from the group consisting of pulp delignification, degrading or decreasing the structural integrity of lignocellulosic material, textile dye bleaching, wastewater detoxification, xenobiotic detoxification, production of a sugar from a lignocellulosic material and recovering cellulose from a biomass.

The disclosure also relates to a method for improving the yield of a polypeptide with laccase activity in a heterologous expression system comprising the step of altering the amino acid of that polypeptide at a position corresponding to position 149 in SEQ ID NO: 1 to a small amino acid residue.

Preferred embodiments of these aspects will be described in more detail below. For the purpose of clarity and a concise description, features are described herein as part of the same or separate embodiments; however, it will be appreciated that the scope of the disclosure may include embodiments having combinations of all or some of the features described.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1: Relative increase of volumetric activity. Graph showing the relative increase of volumetric activity in parallel cultures in E. coli of wild-type (non-mutated) versus variant laccases according to SEQ ID NO: 1 and SEQ ID NO: 2. The abbreviation “SEQ” followed by a number refers to the SEQ ID NO: of the respective number; SEQ1 refers to SEQ ID NO: 1. SEQ1 149T refers to the polypeptide according to SEQ ID NO: 1, wherein the amino acid corresponding to position 149 is replaced by a T (Thr or threonine).

FIG. 2: Relative increase of volumetric activity. Graph showing the relative increase of volumetric activity in parallel cultures in E. coli of wild-type (non-mutated) versus variant laccases according to SEQ ID NO: 5. The abbreviation “SEQ” followed by a number refers to the SEQ ID NO: of the respective number; SEQ5 refers to SEQ ID NO: 5. SEQ5 149T refers to the polypeptide according to SEQ ID NO: 5, wherein the amino acid corresponding to position 149 is replaced by a T (Thr or threonine).

FIG. 3: Relative increase of volumetric activity. Graph showing the relative increase of volumetric activity in parallel cultures in E. coli of wild-type (non-mutated) versus variant laccases according to SEQ ID NO: 15. The abbreviation “SEQ” followed by a number refers to the SEQ ID NO: of the respective number; SEQ15 refers to SEQ ID NO: 15. SEQ 15 149T refers to the polypeptide according to SEQ ID NO: 15, wherein the amino acid corresponding to position 149 is replaced by a T (Thr or threonine).

FIG. 4: Relative increase of volumetric activity. Graph showing the relative increase of volumetric activity in parallel cultures in Pichia pastoris of wild-type (non-mutated) versus variant laccases according to SEQ ID NO: 1 and SEQ ID NO: 2. The abbreviation “SEQ” followed by a number refers to the SEQ ID NO: of the respective number; SEQ1 refers to SEQ ID NO: 1. SEQ1 149T refers to the polypeptide according to SEQ ID NO: 1, wherein the amino acid corresponding to position 149 is replaced by a threonine residue (Thr or T).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

This disclosure is based on the observation that a single amino acid substitution in different laccases improves the yield of that laccase by at least 50% when expressed in prokaryotes as well as in eukaryotes. It was also found that the variant laccase remains active.

The term “amino acid substitution” is used herein the same way as it is commonly used, i.e., the term refers to a replacement of one or more amino acids in a protein with another amino acid. Artificial amino acid substitutions may also be referred to as mutations.

The term “small amino acid” as used herein is intended to cover a group of amino acids that are usually considered as small or tiny amino acids. In a preferred embodiment, this group is limited to amino acids threonine, proline, alanine, glycine, serine, cysteine, aspartic acid, asparagine and valine.

SEQ ID NO: 1 is a CotA laccase from Bacillus subtilis newly disclosed herein, whereas SEQ ID NO: 2 is a CotA laccase that has been previously disclosed in WO 2013/038062. It was found that laccase variants that have a small amino acid residue selected from the group consisting of threonine, proline, alanine, glycine, serine, cysteine, aspartic acid, asparagine and valine at an amino acid position corresponding to position 149 in SEQ ID NO: 1 provided a higher yield when expressed in a heterologous expression system.

Laccase variants with an amino acid residue selected from the group consisting of threonine, proline, asparagine and aspartic acid at an amino acid position corresponding to position 149 in SEQ ID NO: 1 are preferred in the context of this disclosure.

Variants carrying a threonine residue at an amino acid position corresponding to position 149 in SEQ ID NO: 1 are most preferred since they resulted in the highest yield of recombinantly expressed laccase.

SEQ ID NO: 3 and SEQ ID NO: 4 disclose B. subtilis spore coat proteins with laccase activity (CotA laccase), that carry a 149T mutation. In fact, SEQ ID NO: 3 is a variant from SEQ ID NO: 1 wherein an isoleucine residue at position 149 has been replaced by a threonine residue. SEQ ID NO: 4 is a variant from SEQ ID NO: 2 wherein an isoleucine residue at position 149 has been replaced by a threonine residue.

A homology search for proteins homologous to SEQ ID NO: 1 was performed using SEQ ID NO: 1 as the query sequence in the “Standard protein BLAST” software, available on the World Wide Web at blast.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/Blast.cgi?PROGRAM=blastp&PAGE_TYPE=BlastSearch&LINK_LOC=blasthome. More information on the software and database versions is available at the National Center for Biotechnology Information at National library of Medicine at the National institute of Health internet site ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. Therein, a number of molecular biology tools including BLAST (Basic Logical Alignment Search Tool) is to be found. BLAST makes use of the following databases: all non-redundant GenBank CDS translations+PDB+SwissProt+PIR+PRF excluding environmental samples from WGS projects. The search as reported herein was performed online on 19 Feb. 2014 and employed BLASTP version 2.2.29+.

The search revealed 44 sequences with at least 75% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 1 (Table 1). These sequences are herein provided as SEQ ID NOS: 51 to 94.

TABLE 1 Sequences obtained from a BLAST search disclosing 44 sequences with at least 75% identity to SEQ ID NO: 1 SEQ AA at pos ID BLAST Overall AA # corr. corr. to NO: No: Description Accession No: identity⁽¹⁾ to pos 149⁽²⁾ AA⁽³⁾ 1 1 CotA laccase from B. subtilis (query sequence) 100%  149 Ile 51 2 laccase [Bacillus subtilis] AGZ16504.1 98% 149 Ile 52 3 spore copper-dependent laccase (outer coat) YP_003865004.1 98% 149 Ile [Bacillus subtilis subsp. spizizenii str. W23] >ref|WP_003219376.1|copper oxidase [Bacillus subtilis] >gb|EFG93543.1|spore copper-dependent laccase [Bacillus subtilis subsp. spizizenii ATCC 6633] >gb|ADM36695.1|spore copper-dependent laccase (outer coat) [Bacillus subtilis subsp. spizizenii str. W23] 53 4 spore copper-dependent laccase [Bacillus subtilis] WP_004397739.1 96% 149 Ile >gb|ELS60660.1|spore copper-dependent laccase [Bacillus subtilis subsp. inaquosorum KCTC 13429] 54 5 copper oxidase [Bacillus subtilis] WP_019713492.1 96% 149 Ile 55 6 laccase [Bacillus vallismortis] AGR50961.1 95% 149 Ile 56 7 spore coat protein A [Bacillus subtilis XF-1] YP_007425830.1 96% 151 Ile >ref|WP_015382982.1|spore coat protein A [Bacillus] >gb|AGE62493.1|spore coat protein A [Bacillus subtilis XF-1] >gb|ERI42893.1|copper oxidase [Bacillus sp. EGD-AK10] 57 8 spore copper-dependent laccase [Bacillus subtilis YP_004206641.1 96% 149 Ile BSn5] >ref|YP_005559844.1|spore coat protein A [Bacillus subtilis subsp. natto BEST195] >ref|YP_007210655.1|Spore coat protein A [Bacillus subtilis subsp. subtilis str. BSP1] >ref|WP_014479048.1|copper oxidase [Bacillus subtilis] >dbj|BAI84141.1|spore coat protein A [Bacillus subtilis subsp. natto BEST195] >gb|ADV95614.1|spore copper-dependent laccase [Bacillus subtilis BSn5] >gb|ADZ57279.1|laccase [Bacillus sp. LS02] >gb|ADZ57280.1|laccase [Bacillus sp. LS03] >gb|ADZ57283.1|laccase [Bacillus sp. WN01] >gb|ADZ57284.1|laccase [Bacillus subtilis] >gb|AGA20638.1|Spore coat protein A [Bacillus subtilis subsp. subtilis str. BSP1] 58 9 CotA [Bacillus sp. JS] >ref|WP_014663045.1| YP_006230497.1 95% 149 Ile copper oxidase [Bacillus sp. JS] >gb|AFI27241.1| CotA [Bacillus sp. JS] 59 10 copper oxidase [Bacillus subtilis QH-1] EXF51833.1 95% 149 Ile 60 11 copper oxidase [Bacillus subtilis] >gb|EHA29133.1| WP_003234000.1 95% 151 Ile spore copper-dependent laccase [Bacillus subtilis subsp. subtilis str. SC-8] 61 12 outer spore coat copper-dependent laccase [Bacillus YP_006628799.1 95% 151 Ile subtilis QB928] >ref|WP_014906195.1|copper oxidase [Bacillus subtilis] >dbj|BAA22774.1|spore coat protein A [Bacillus subtilis] >gb|AFQ56549.1| Outer spore coat copper-dependent laccase [Bacillus subtilis QB928] 62 13 spore coat protein A [Bacillus subtilis subsp. subtilis NP_388511.1 95% 149 Ile str. 168] 63 14 spore coat protein A [Bacillus subtilis subsp. subtilis YP_007661398.1 95% 149 Ile str. BAB-1] >ref|WP_015482891.1|spore coat protein A [Bacillus subtilis] >gb|AGI27890.1|spore coat protein A [Bacillus subtilis subsp. subtilis str. BAB-1] 64 15 Chain A, Mutations In The Neighbourhood Of 4AKQ_A 95% 149 Ile Cota-Laccase Trinuclear Site: E498d Mutant 65 16 Chain A, Mutations In The Neighbourhood Of 4A68_A 95% 149 Ile Cota-Laccase Trinuclear Site: D116n Mutant 66 17 Chain A, Mutations In The Neighbourhood Of 4A66_A 95% 149 Ile Cota-Laccase Trinuclear Site: D116a Mutant 67 18 spore coat protein [Bacillus subtilis] ACS44284.1 95% 149 Ile 68 19 spore coat protein [Bacillus subtilis] AGK12417.1 95% 149 Ile 69 20 Chain A, Crystal Structure Of The Reconstituted 2X87_A 95% 149 Ile Cota 70 21 laccase [Bacillus sp. ZW2531-1] AFN66123.1 95% 149 Ile 71 22 Chain A, Mutations In The Neighbourhood Of 4A67_A 95% 149 Ile Cota-Laccase Trinuclear Site: D116e Mutant 72 23 Chain A, Proximal Mutations At The Type 1 Cu 2WSD_A 95% 149 Ile Site Of Cota-Laccase: I494a Mutant 73 24 Chain A, Mutations In The Neighbourhood Of 4AKP_A 95% 149 Ile Cota-Laccase Trinuclear Site: e498t Mutant 74 25 laccase [Bacillus sp. HR03] ACM46021.1 94% 149 Ile 75 = 26 copper oxidase [Bacillus vallismortis] WP_010329056.1 94% 149 Ile 15 76 27 laccase [Bacillus subtilis] AEK80414.1 92% 149 Ile 77 28 copper oxidase [Bacillus mojavensis] WP_010333230.1 91% 149 Ile 78 29 Chain A, Mutations In The Neighbourhood Of 4AKO_A 94% 145 Ile Cota-Laccase Trinuclear Site: E498l Mutant 79 30 CotA [Bacillus subtilis] AAB62305.1 89% 149 Ile 80 31 spore copper-dependent laccase [Bacillus YP_003972023.1 81% 149 Ile atrophaeus 1942] >ref|WP_003328493.1|copper oxidase [Bacillus atrophaeus] >gb|ADP31092.1| spore copper-dependent laccase (outer coat) [Bacillus atrophaeus 1942] >gb|EIM09308.1|spore copper-dependent laccase [Bacillus atrophaeus C89] 81 32 Spore coat protein A [Bacillus atrophaeus] WP_010787813.1 81% 149 Ile >gb|EOB38473.1|Spore coat protein A [Bacillus atrophaeus UCMB-5137] 82 33 copper oxidase [Bacillus sp. 5B6] >gb|EIF12180.1| WP_007609818.1 77% 149 Leu CotA [Bacillus sp. 5B6] 83 34 outer spore coat copper-dependent laccase [Bacillus YP_007496315.1 77% 149 Leu amyloliquefaciens subsp. plantarum UCMB5036] >ref|YP_008411651.1|outer spore coat copper- dependent laccase [Bacillus amyloliquefaciens subsp. plantarum UCMB5033] >ref|YP_008420054.1|outer spore coat copper- dependent laccase [Bacillus amyloliquefaciens subsp. plantarum UCMB5113] >ref|WP_015416957.1|outer spore coat copper- dependent laccase [Bacillus amyloliquefaciens] >emb|CCP20645.1|outer spore coat copper- dependent laccase [Bacillus amyloliquefaciens subsp. plantarum UCMB5036] >emb|CDG28620.1| outer spore coat copper-dependent laccase [Bacillus amyloliquefaciens subsp. plantarum UCMB5033] >emb|CDG24919.1|outer spore coat copper- dependent laccase [Bacillus amyloliquefaciens subsp. plantarum UCMB5113] 84 35 spore coat protein CotA [Bacillus amyloliquefaciens YP_005419918.1 77% 149 Leu subsp. plantarum YAU B9601-Y2] >ref|YP_006327430.1|spore coat protein A [Bacillus amyloliquefaciens Y2] >ref|WP_014417082.1|copper oxidase [Bacillus amyloliquefaciens] >gb|ADZ57285.1 |laccase [Bacillus sp. LC02] >emb|CCG48602.1|spore coat protein CotA [Bacillus amyloliquefaciens subsp. plantarum YAU B9601-Y2] >gb|AFJ60705.1|spore coat protein A [Bacillus amyloliquefaciens Y2] >dbj|BAM49543.1|spore copper-dependent laccase [Bacillus subtilis BEST7613] >dbj|BAM56813.1| spore copper-dependent laccase [Bacillus subtilis BEST7003] 85 36 bilirubin oxidase [Bacillus amyloliquefaciens subsp. YP_008625231.1 77% 149 Leu plantarum NAU-B3] >ref|WP_022552695.1| bilirubin oxidase [Bacillus amyloliquefaciens] >emb|CDH94370.1| bilirubin oxidase [Bacillus amyloliquefaciens subsp. plantarum NAU-B3] 86 37 spore coat protein A [Bacillus amyloliquefaciens YP_007185316.1 77% 149 Leu subsp. plantarum AS43.3] >ref|WP_015239305.1| spore coat protein A [Bacillus amyloliquefaciens] >gb|AFZ89646.1| spore coat protein A [Bacillus amyloliquefaciens subsp. plantarum AS43.3] 87 = 5 38 CotA [Bacillus amyloliquefaciens subsp. plantarum YP_001420286.1 77% 149 Leu str. FZB42] >ref|YP_008725930.1| cotA [Bacillus amyloliquefaciens CC178] >ref|WP_012116986.1| copper oxidase [Bacillus amyloliquefaciens] >gb|ABS73055.1| CotA [Bacillus amyloliquefaciens subsp. plantarum str. FZB42] >gb|AGZ55352.1| CotA [Bacillus amyloliquefaciens CC178] 88 39 laccase [Bacillus sp. LC03] ADZ57286.1 76% 149 Leu 89 40 copper oxidase [Bacillus sp. 916] >gb|EJD67619.1| WP_007408880.1 77% 149 Leu CotA [Bacillus sp. 916] 90 41 copper oxidase [Bacillus amyloliquefaciens] WP_021495201.1 76% 149 Leu >gb|ERH51073.1| copper oxidase [Bacillus amyloliquefaciens EGD-AQ14] 91 42 bilirubin oxidase [Bacillus amyloliquefaciens subsp. YP_005129370.1 76% 149 Leu plantarum CAU B946] >ref|YP_007446652.1| bilirubin oxidase [Bacillus amyloliquefaciens IT-45] >ref|YP_008949033.1| copper oxidase [Bacillus amyloliquefaciens LFB112] >ref|WP_003155789.1| copper oxidase [Bacillus amyloliquefaciens] >gb|ADZ57278.1| laccase [Bacillus sp. LS01] >gb|ADZ57282.1| laccase [Bacillus sp. LS05] >emb|CCF04175.1| bilirubin oxidase [Bacillus amyloliquefaciens subsp. plantarum CAU B946] >gb|EKE46469.1| bilirubin oxidase [Bacillus amyloliquefaciens subsp. plantarum M27] >gb|AGF28771.1| bilirubin oxidase [Bacillus amyloliquefaciens IT-45] >gb|ERK81509.1| copper oxidase [Bacillus amyloliquefaciens UASWS BA1] >gb|AHC41184.1| copper oxidase [Bacillus amyloliquefaciens LFB112] 92 43 copper oxidase [Bacillus amyloliquefaciens subsp. AHK48246.1 76% 149 Leu plantarum TrigoCor1448] 93 44 spore copper-dependent laccase [Bacillus YP_003919218.1 76% 149 Leu amyloliquefaciens DSM 7] >ref|YP_005540261.1| spore copper-dependent laccase [Bacillus amyloliquefaciens TA208] >ref|YP_005544441.1| spore copper-dependent laccase [Bacillus amyloliquefaciens LL3] >ref|YP_005548603.1| spore copper-dependent laccase [Bacillus amyloliquefaciens XH7] >ref|WP_013351262.1| copper oxidase [Bacillus amyloliquefaciens] >emb|CBI41748.1| spore copper-dependent laccase [Bacillus amyloliquefaciens DSM 7] >gb|AEB22768.1| spore copper-dependent laccase [Bacillus amyloliquefaciens TA208] >gb|AEB62213.1| spore copper-dependent laccase [Bacillus amyloliquefaciens LL3] >gb|AEK87755.1| spore copper-dependent laccase [Bacillus amyloliquefaciens XH7] 94 45 copper oxidase [Bacillus siamensis] WP_016937040.1 75% 149 Leu ⁽¹⁾Overall identity of selected sequence with SEQ ID NO: 1, the query sequence. ⁽²⁾Position number of the selected sequence that corresponds with position 149 in SEQ ID NO: 1. ⁽³⁾Amino acid at a position of the selected sequence that corresponds with position 149 in SEQ ID NO: 1.

Analysis of the homologous proteins revealed that all proteins with at least 75% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 1, belong to the species of Bacillus. All sequences with at least 75% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 1 were copper-dependent oxidases (laccases) and most of them were annotated as spore coat proteins. Thus, it was concluded that sequences with this extent (at least 75%) of identity to SEQ ID NO: 1 represent a functionally and structurally highly related group of proteins that are likely to have similar structural traits and folding pathways.

Several amino acid substitutions were performed in a variety of laccases at a position corresponding to position 149 in SEQ ID NO: 1, finding that the yield of soluble recombinant laccase protein could be improved when the original amino acid (Ile or Leu) occurring at that position was replaced with a small or tiny amino acid residue selected from the group consisting of threonine, proline, alanine, glycine, serine, cysteine, aspartic acid, asparagine and valine.

In other words, the disclosure relates to a spore coat polypeptide with laccase activity wherein the polypeptide comprises an amino acid residue selected from the group consisting of threonine, proline, alanine, glycine, serine, cysteine, aspartic acid, asparagine and valine, at an amino acid position corresponding to position 149 in SEQ ID NO: 1.

Although marginal differences in yield were observed between the variants carrying the different amino acids, variants carrying a threonine residue at position 149 showed the highest yield. In a preferred embodiment, the disclosure, therefore, relates to a laccase with a threonine residue at a position corresponding to amino acid 149 of SEQ ID NO: 1.

In a further preferred embodiment, the polypeptide according to the disclosure is a polypeptide mutated as described above wherein the wild-type sequence is encoded by the genome of a Bacillus species, such as Bacillus subtilis.

None of the 45 laccases from Table 1 (44 sequences from the search plus SEQ ID NO: 1 used as the query sequence) has an amino acid selected from the group consisting of threonine, proline, alanine, glycine, serine, cysteine, aspartic acid, asparagine and valine at a position corresponding to position 149 of SEQ ID NO: 1. Thus, it may be concluded that a laccase with at least 75% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 1 comprising an amino acid selected from the group consisting of threonine, proline, alanine, glycine, serine, cysteine, aspartic acid, asparagine and valine at a position corresponding to position 149 of SEQ ID NO: 1 has not yet been described in the prior art.

It is remarkable that the amino acid corresponding to position 149 in SEQ ID NO: 1 is rather well conserved within the group of 44 sequences of Table 1. An isoleucine residue occurs at that position in 31 out of 44 cases (70%), whereas thirteen sequences appear to have a leucine residue at that position (30%).

It was further observed that the search identified two different groups of sequences. The first group comprises 26 sequences with between 94% and 100% identity with SEQ ID NO: 1. Those sequences were almost all annotated as Bacillus subtilis CotA spore coat proteins, apart from two Bacillus vallismortis CotA (SEQ ID NO: 55 and SEQ ID NO: 75).

A second group of 15 sequences was also identified with an identity of between 75% and 81% with the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1.

It was found that 41 out of 44 sequences from the search (93%) belonged to either one of these two groups.

Introduction of a specific mutation in a recombinant gene is among the routine skills of a molecular biologist. Specific guidance may be obtained from Methods in Molecular Biology, Vol. 182, “In vitro mutagenesis protocols,” eds. Jeff Braman, Humana Press 2002. There are commercially available kits for performing site-directed mutagenesis (for example, QUIKCHANGE® II XL Site-Directed Mutagenesis kit, Agilent Technologies cat. No. 200521).

Variants of representatives of laccases were prepared from each of the above-described two groups. This includes laccases with an amino acid sequence according to SEQ ID NO: 1 and SEQ ID NO: 2 as representatives of group 1 (94%400% identity). The sequences of these variants are shown as SEQ ID NO: 3 and SEQ ID NO: 4, respectively, wherein the isoleucine residue at position 149 of SEQ ID NO: 1 and SEQ ID NO: 2 was replaced by a threonine. When expressed in E. coli, both variants showed an increased yield of active enzyme of 240% and 260%, respectively (FIG. 1). In other words, the volumetric activity of both variants was increased to at least 240%.

As a control experiment, it was determined whether this improved volumetric activity may be attributable to an increased specific activity of the enzyme. This appeared not to be the case. The increase in the amount of mutated enzyme (149T) in the soluble fraction of cell lysate was proportional to the increase in volumetric activity, so it has to be concluded that more variant enzyme may be recovered, thereby completely accounting for the increase in volumetric activity. Hence, the yield of the laccase enzyme is increased rather than its specific activity.

A 149T variant was also prepared from a representative of laccases from the second group (75%-81% identity). The naturally occurring Leu at position 149 in SEQ ID NO: 5 (77% identity to SEQ ID NO: 1) was replaced by a threonine in order to obtain the variant according to SEQ ID NO: 6.

When expressed in E. coli, the 149T variant showed an increased yield of active enzyme of 250%. In other words, the 149T variant had an increased volumetric activity of at least a factor 2.5 (FIG. 2).

The naturally occurring amino acid at position 149 could also be replaced with other amino acids. Variants of representative laccases were prepared from each of the two groups identified above: SEQ ID NO: 5 and SEQ ID NO: 15. The naturally occurring Leu in SEQ ID NO: 5 and the naturally occurring Ile at position 149 of SEQ ID NO: 15 were replaced with either a threonine, proline, alanine, glycine, serine, cysteine, aspartic acid, asparagine or a valine residue. The variants of SEQ ID NO: 5 are represented by SEQ ID NOS: 6-14, respectively, whereas the variants of SEQ ID NO: 15 are represented by SEQ ID NOS: 16-24 (Tables 2 and 3).

Sequences of SEQ ID NO: 1 to SEQ ID NO: 24 are shown in Table 5.

Each of these variants exhibited an improved yield of at least 50% when expressed in a heterologous expression system (FIGS. 2 and 3).

The variants according to SEQ ID NO: 3 and SEQ ID NO: 4 were also expressed in Pichia pastoris. In accordance with the data obtained in a prokaryotic expression system (E. coli, see above) the eukaryotic expression also showed an increased yield. The yield was improved to at least 200% when the expression of the variant sequences was compared with their wild-type, SEQ ID NO: 1 and SEQ ID NO: 2, respectively (FIG. 4).

Accordingly, the disclosure relates to a polypeptide with laccase activity comprising an amino acid sequence that is at least 75% identical to the amino acid sequence according to SEQ ID NO: 1, wherein the polypeptide comprises an amino acid residue selected from the group consisting of threonine, proline, alanine, glycine, serine, cysteine, aspartic acid, asparagine and valine, at an amino acid position corresponding to position 149 in SEQ ID NO: 1.

In a preferred embodiment, the disclosure relates to a polypeptide with laccase activity consisting of an amino acid sequence that is at least 75% identical to the amino acid sequence according to SEQ ID NO: 1, wherein the polypeptide comprises a small amino acid residue selected from the group consisting of threonine, proline, alanine, glycine, serine, cysteine, aspartic acid, asparagine and valine at an amino acid position corresponding to position 149 in SEQ ID NO: 1.

In a further preferred embodiment, the disclosure relates to a polypeptide with laccase activity comprising or consisting of an amino acid sequence that is at least 75% identical to the amino acid sequence according to SEQ ID NO: 1, wherein the polypeptide comprises a threonine residue at a position corresponding to position 149 in SEQ ID NO: 1.

This variant laccase is also referred to herein as amino acid variant 149Thr or 149T. In a further preferred embodiment, the polypeptide is isolated.

The above finding that spore coat proteins occur in two distinct groups allows defining the disclosure in yet another way, such as the structural relationship between the polypeptide according to the disclosure and the reference polypeptides according to the sequences herein. Hence, the disclosure relates to a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence that is at least 94% identical to the amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOS: 51-75 as representatives of group 1, as well as a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence that is at least 94% identical to the amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOS: 80-94 as representatives of group 2, wherein the polypeptide comprises an amino acid residue selected from the group consisting of threonine, proline, alanine, glycine, serine, cysteine, aspartic acid, asparagine and valine, at an amino acid position corresponding to position 149 in SEQ ID NO: 1.

The term “at least 94%” is used herein to include at least 95%, such as 96%, 97%, 98%, 99% or even 100%.

The term “amino acid variant,” “laccase variant” or “sequence variant” or equivalent has a meaning well recognized in the art and is accordingly used herein to indicate an amino acid sequence that has at least one amino acid difference as compared to another amino acid sequence, such as the amino acid sequence from which it was derived.

The term “at least 75%” is used herein to include at least 76%, such as at least 77%, 78%, 79%, 80% or more such as at least 81%, 82%, 83%, 84%, 85%, 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90% or more, such as 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, or even 100%.

The term “laccase activity” is used herein to mean the property of a polypeptide to act as a laccase enzyme, which may be expressed as the maximal initial rate of the specific oxidation reaction. Laccase activity may be determined by standard oxidation assays known in the art including, such as, for example, by measurement of oxidation of syringaldazine, according to Sigma online protocol, or according to Cantarella et al., 2003.^([7])

An example of determining relative laccase activity is presented in Example 4. Any substrate suitable for the enzyme in question may be used in the activity measurements. A non-limiting example of a substrate suitable for use in assessing the enzymatic activity of laccase variants is ABTS (2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid). Laccases are able to oxidize this substrate.

As used herein, the term “increased (or improved) laccase-specific activity” refers to a laccase activity higher than that of a corresponding non-mutated laccase enzyme under the same conditions.

The term “increased yield” or equivalent means that the yield of the active enzyme from the same culture volume obtained in a standard purification or recovery protocol is improved by at least 50% or a factor 1.5. The increase may be even more, such as a factor 2, 2.5, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 or more.

Recovery of a laccase variant produced by a host cell may be performed by any technique known to those skilled in the art. Possible techniques include, but are not limited to, secretion of the protein into the expression medium, and purification of the protein from cellular biomass. The production method may further comprise a step of purifying the laccase variant obtained. For thermostable laccases, non-limiting examples of such methods include heating of the disintegrated cells and removing coagulated thermo-labile proteins from the solution. For secreted proteins, non-limiting examples of such methods include ion exchange chromatography, and ultra-filtration of the expression medium. It is important that the purification method of choice is such that the purified protein retains its activity, preferably its laccase activity.

The laccase variants according to this disclosure may be used in a wide range of different industrial processes and applications, such as cellulose recovery from lignocellulosic biomass, decreasing refining energy in wood refining and pulp preparation, in pulp delignification, textile dye bleaching, wastewater detoxification, xenobiotic detoxification, and detergent manufacturing.

Amino acid variations as described herein may be introduced into any of the amino acid sequences disclosed herein, or other homologous sequences, by standard methods known in the art, such as site-directed mutagenesis. In this way, the yield of the laccases from a heterologous expression system may be improved.

Kits for performing site-directed mutagenesis are commercially available in the art (e.g., QUIKCHANGE® II XL Site-Directed Mutagenesis kit by Agilent Technologies). Further suitable methods for introducing the above mutations into a recombinant gene are disclosed, e.g., in Methods in Molecular Biology, 2002.^([8])

Thus, some embodiments of this disclosure relate to laccase variants or mutants that comprise a small amino acid residue, preferably a threonine residue (Thr) in a position that corresponds to the position 149 of the amino acid sequence depicted in SEQ ID NO: 1, and have an increased yield as compared to that of a corresponding non-mutated control when expressed in a heterologous expression system.

The term “heterologous expression system” or equivalent means a system for expressing a DNA sequence from one host organism in a recipient organism from a different species or genus than the host organism. The most prevalent recipients, known as heterologous expression systems, are usually chosen because they are easy to transfer DNA into or because they allow for a simpler assessment of the protein's function. Heterologous expression systems are also preferably used because they allow the upscaling of the production of a protein encoded by the DNA sequence in an industrial process. Preferred recipient organisms for use as heterologous expression systems include bacterial, fungal and yeast organisms, such as, for example, Escherichia coli, Bacillus, Corynebacterium, Pseudomonas, Pichia pastoris, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Yarrowia lipolytica, filamentus fungi and many more systems well known in the art.

As used herein, the degree of identity between two or more amino acid sequences is equivalent to a function of the number of identical positions shared by the sequences (i.e., % identity=number of identical positions divided by the total number of positions×100), excluding gaps, which need to be introduced for optimal alignment of the two sequences, and overhangs. The comparison of sequences and determination of percent identity between two or more sequences can be accomplished using standard methods known in the art. For example, a freeware conventionally used for this purpose is “Align” tool at NCBI recourse on the World Wide Web at blast.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/Blast.cgi?PAGE_TYPE=BlastSearch&BLAST_SPEC=blast2seq&LINK_LOC=align2seq.

In a preferred embodiment, the alignment of two sequences is to be performed over the full length of the polypeptides.

The present laccase polypeptides or proteins may be fused to additional sequences, by attaching or inserting, including, but not limited to, affinity tags, facilitating protein purification (S-tag, maltose binding domain, chitin binding domain), domains or sequences assisting folding (such as thioredoxin domain, SUMO protein), sequences affecting protein localization (periplasmic localization signals, etc.), proteins bearing additional function, such as green fluorescent protein (GFP), or sequences representing another enzymatic activity. Other suitable fusion partners for the present laccases are known to those skilled in the art.

This disclosure also relates to polynucleotides encoding any of the laccase variants disclosed herein. Means and methods for cloning and isolating such polynucleotides are well known in the art.

Furthermore, this disclosure relates to a vector comprising a polynucleotide according to the disclosure, optionally operably linked to one or more control sequences. Suitable control sequences are readily available in the art and include, but are not limited to, promoter, leader, polyadenylation, and signal sequences.

Laccase variants according to various embodiments of this disclosure may be obtained by standard recombinant methods known in the art. Briefly, such a method may comprise the steps of i) culturing a desired recombinant host cell under conditions suitable for the production of a present laccase polypeptide variant, and ii) recovering the polypeptide variant obtained. The polypeptide may then optionally be further purified.

A large number of vector-host systems known in the art may be used for recombinant production of laccase variants. Possible vectors include, but are not limited to, plasmids or modified viruses that are maintained in the host cell as autonomous DNA molecule or integrated in genomic DNA. The vector system must be compatible with the host cell used as is well known in the art. Non-limiting examples of suitable host cells include bacteria (e.g., E. coli, bacilli), yeast (e.g., Pichia Pastoris, Saccharomyces Cerevisae), fungi (e.g., filamentous fungi), and insect cells (e.g., Sf9).

A polypeptide according to the disclosure may be advantageously used in an application selected from the group consisting of pulp delignification, degrading or decreasing the structural integrity of lignocellulosic material, textile dye bleaching, wastewater detoxification, xenobiotic detoxification, production of a sugar from a lignocellulosic material and recovering cellulose from a biomass.

In yet other terms, the disclosure relates to a method for improving the yield of a polypeptide with laccase activity in a heterologous expression system comprising the step of altering the amino acid at a position corresponding to position 149 in SEQ ID NO: 1 to a threonine residue.

EXAMPLES Example 1 Construction of Laccases with Improved Properties

Mutations as described herein were introduced into various recombinant genes by standard site-directed mutagenesis essentially as described in WO 2013/038062. In more detail, in order to introduce mutation 149T into the gene of SEQ ID NO: 1, two separate PCRs were carried out:

(1) with primers Primer1  (SEQ ID NO: 25) GAAATTAATACGACTCACTATAGG and Primer2 (Seq1) (SEQ ID NO: 26) AGCACCGCGTTGCTGATTCGGATAATGATA, (2) with Primer3 (Seq1) (SEQ ID NO: 27) CGAATCAGCAACGCGGTGCTAccTTGTGGTATC and Primer4 (SEQ ID NO: 28) GGTTATGCTAGTTATTGCTCAGCGGTG.

In both reactions, recombinant gene without the mutation was used as the template. Primers 1 and 4 bind inside the vector sequence and are not specific to the recombinant gene. Primers 2 and 3 bind inside the recombinant gene and their binding sites overlap. Primer 3 binding site contains the mutation site. Primer 3 represents the mutated (desired) sequence, which is not 100% matching the template (lower case type font in the primer sequence indicate the mis-matched nucleotides); however, the primer has enough affinity and specificity to the binding site to produce the desired PCR product. Purified PCR products from reactions (1) and (2) were combined and used as template for PCR reaction with Primer1 and Primer4. The product of this reaction, containing the mutant sequence of the gene, was cloned in a plasmid vector for expression in E. coli.

Similarly, for introducing a 149T mutation into other genes (corresponding to SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 5 and SEQ ID NO: 15), the same Primer1 and Primer4 were used, whereas Primer2 and Primer3 were specific for each gene.

In the polypeptide comprising the sequence according to SEQ ID NO: 2, there is an isoleucine at position 149, the position corresponding to amino acid 149 in SEQ ID NO: 1. For introducing the 149T mutation into the polypeptide comprising the sequence according to SEQ ID NO: 2, the following primers3 and 2 were used:

Primer3 (SEQ ID NO: 29) CGAATCAGCAGCGCGGCGCTAccTTGTGGTATC; and Primer2 (SEQ ID NO: 30) AGCGCCGCGCTGCTGATTCGGATAATGATA.

In the polypeptide comprising the sequence according to SEQ ID NO: 5, there is a leucine at position 149, the position corresponding to amino acid 149 in SEQ ID NO: 1. For introducing several mutations at position 149 into the polypeptide comprising the sequence according to SEQ ID NO: 5, the following primer2 was used in combination with the primers 3 listed in Table 2:

Primer2 (SEQ ID NO: 31) GCCCCGCGCTGTTTGTTTGGATAA.

TABLE 2 Primers used to introduce various amino acid substitutions into SEQ ID NO: 5 Specific primer3 used Variant obtained to introduce variations AA change SEQ introduced at SEQ Primer3 sequence ID NO: position 149 ID NO: TCCAAACAAACAGCGCGGG 32 Thr  6 GCTacGTTATGGTATCAC TCCAAACAAACAGCGCGGG 33 Pro  7 GCTCcGTTATGGTATCAC TCCAAACAAACAGCGCGGG 34 Ala  8 GCTgcGTTATGGTATCAC TCCAAACAAACAGCGCGGG 35 Gly  9 GCTggtTTATGGTATCAC TCCAAACAAACAGCGCGGG 36 Ser 10 GCTtctTTATGGTATCAC TCCAAACAAACAGCGCGGG 37 Cys 11 GCTtgtTTATGGTATCAC TCCAAACAAACAGCGCGGG 38 Asp 12 GCTgatTTATGGTATCAC TCCAAACAAACAGCGCGGG 39 Asn 13 GCTaacTTATGGTATCAC TCCAAACAAACAGCGCGGG 40 Val 14 GCTgTGTTATGGTATCAC

In the polypeptide comprising the sequence according to SEQ ID NO: 15, there is an isoleucine at position 149, the position corresponding to amino acid 149 in SEQ ID NO: 1. For introducing a 149T mutation into the polypeptide comprising the sequence according to SEQ ID NO: 15, the following primer2 was used in combination with the various primers3 in Table 3:

Primer2: (SEQ ID NO: 41) AGCACCGCGCTGCTGATTCGGATAATGATA.

TABLE 3 Primers used to introduce various amino acid substitutions into SEQ ID NO: 15 Specific primer3 used Variant obtained to introduce mutation AA change SEQ introduced at SEQ Primer3 sequence ID NO: position 149 ID NO: CGAATCAGCAGCGCGGTGCTAc 42 Thr 16 TTTGTGGTATCACGATCACGC CGAATCAGCAGCGCGGTGCTcc 43 Pro 17 gTTGTGGTATCACGATCACGC CGAATCAGCAGCGCGGTGCTgc 44 Ala 18 gTTGTGGTATCACGATCACGC CGAATCAGCAGCGCGGTGCTgg 45 Gly 19 TTTGTGGTATCACGATCACGC CGAATCAGCAGCGCGGTGCTtc 46 Ser 20 TTTGTGGTATCACGATCACGC CGAATCAGCAGCGCGGTGCTtg 47 Cys 21 TTTGTGGTATCACGATCACGC CGAATCAGCAGCGCGGTGCTga 48 Asp 22 TTTGTGGTATCACGATCACGC CGAATCAGCAGCGCGGTGCTAa 49 Asn 23 cTTGTGGTATCACGATCACGC CGAATCAGCAGCGCGGTGCTgT 50 Val 24 gTTGTGGTATCACGATCACGC

Example 2 Heterologous Expression of Variant and Non-Mutated Laccases

Variant laccases were expressed in E. coli and Pichia pastoris.

For expression in Pichia Pastoris, recombinant genes were cloned into a commercial Pichia Pastoris expression vector pPICZ-A, available from Invitrogen (Life Technologies). This vector provides secreted protein expression under the control of methanol-inducible AOX1 promoter upon integration of the construct into genomic DNA of the yeast cell.

Linearized plasmid DNA was introduced into yeast cells by electroporation, and clones with integrated recombinant gene were selected on agar medium plates with Zeocin (25 μg/ml). Ten colonies from each construct were tested in small liquid cultures (3 ml) with a 72-hour cultivation in humidified shaker at 28° C. according to the plasmid manufacturer manual (World Wide Web at tools.lifetechnologies.com/content/sfs/manuals/ppiczalpha_man.pdf). The medium recommended by the manufacturer was supplemented with 1 mM CuCl, as laccase protein contains copper as a cofactor. Activity in the medium was measured by ABTS oxidation (see Example 4), and the two best-producing clones were selected for each gene. Parallel cultures of the selected clones were grown in flask scale according to the plasmid manufacturer manual (see above) at 28° C. for 105 hours. Cells were removed by centrifugation and medium containing the recombinant protein was collected. These preparations were used for comparison of volumetric activities of variant and non-mutated genes.

For recombinant expression in E. coli, recombinant genes were cloned into pET-28 commercial expression vector under the control of T7 bacteriophage promoter. Protein production was carried out in E. coli BL21(DE3) strain according to the plasmid manufacturer protocol on the World Wide Web at richsingiser.com/4402/Novagen %20pET %20system %20manual.pdf. The medium recommended by the manufacturer was supplemented with 1 mM CuCl, as laccase protein contains copper as a cofactor. The incubation temperature for protein production was 30° C., which was found optimal for maximum yield of the active protein. Cells were lysed using lysis buffer (50 mM Tris-HCl pH 7.4, 1% TRITON®-X100, 1 mM CuCl) and heated at 70° C. for 20 minutes. Coagulated cell debris was removed by centrifugation. The recombinant laccase, being a thermostable protein, remained in soluble fraction. Enzymatic activity was detectable only in soluble fraction. Analysis of soluble and insoluble fractions by gel-electrophoresis reveals that over 90% of the recombinant protein is present in insoluble inactive form as inclusion bodies (in accordance with literature data).

Example 3 Measurement of Yield

The relative yields of mutated and non-mutated soluble laccases were determined by densitometry of protein bands after denaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. To this end, samples of soluble proteins after thermal treatment (see Example 2) obtained from parallel cultures of mutated and non-mutated clones, were analyzed by gel-electrophoresis under denaturing conditions (a standard method well known in the art of molecular biology). After staining the gel with Coomassie Brilliant Blue, the gel was scanned to obtain a bitmap image, and intensity of the band corresponding to recombinant laccase was quantified by ImageJ software (a public freeware developed at National Institute of Health and online available on the World Wide Web at imagej.nih.gov/ij/).

Example 4 Relative Activity Measurement of Laccase

As stated above, the term “laccase activity” is used herein to mean the capability to act as a laccase enzyme, which may be expressed as the maximal initial rate of the specific oxidation reaction. Relative activity was measured by oxidation of ABTS (2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid). Reaction course was monitored by change in absorbance at 405 nM (green color development). The appropriate reaction time was determined to provide initial rates of oxidation when color development is linear with time. Substrate (ABTS) concentration was 5 mM to provide maximum initial rates (substrate saturation conditions).

Typically, reactions were carried out in 96-well flat bottom plates, each well containing 2 μl of enzyme preparation in 200 μl of 100 mM Succinic acid pH 5. The reaction was initiated by simultaneous addition of the substrate (22 μl of 50 mM ABTS) in each well. After the reaction time has elapsed, absorbance at 405 nm of the reaction mixtures was determined by a plate reader (Multiscan Go, Thermo Scientific). In order to determine relative activity of mutated laccase, the absorbance of the reference laccase sample was taken for 100%, and relative activity was determined as fraction of this absorbance.

Example 5 Identification of the Amino Acid Position Corresponding to Position 149

In order to identify the amino acid position that corresponds to position 149 in SEQ ID NO: 1 in a given sequence X, the sequence X is aligned with the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 using standard software available in the art, in this case the “Align” tool at NCBI recourse on the World Wide Web at blast.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/Blast.cgi?PAGE_TYPE=BlastSearch&BLAST_SPEC=blast2seq&LINK_LOC=align2seq.

As an example, sequences 51-94 were aligned with SEQ ID NO: 1. Only a fragment of that alignment is shown in Table 4, i.e., the fragment corresponding to amino acids 125-152 of SEQ ID NO: 1. It is immediately evident that this particular region is highly conserved or highly homologous between the various sequences provided in the table, leading to a high degree of identity in all examined sequences. For example, the isoleucine (I) residue at position 149 of SEQ ID NO: 1 corresponds to an isoleucine residue at position 149 in SEQ ID NO: 51, to an isoleucine residue at position 151 in SEQ ID NO: 56, and to a leucine residue (L) at position 149 in SEQ ID NO: 85. The position of the first and last amino acid of each fragment is shown in Table 4. The amino acid corresponding to position 149 in SEQ ID NO: 1 in each fragment is indicated in bold.

Sequences of SEQ ID NO: 1 to SEQ ID NO: 24 are shown in Table 5.

TABLE 4 Alignment of SEQ ID NO: 1 with SEQ ID NOS: 51-94, fragments 125-152 of the alignment are shown. The amino acid at the position corresponding to amino acid 149 in SEQ ID NO: 1 is shown in bold. First Sequence corresponding to Last SEQ Fragment of Accession No: AA AA 125-152 of SEQ ID NO: 1. AA ID NO: SEQ ID NO: SEQ ID NO: 1 125 KDFEQTGPYFKREVYHYPNQQRGAILWY 152  95  1 AGZ16504.1 125 KDFEQTGPYFKREVYHYPNQQRGAILWY 152  96 51 YP_003865004.1 125 KDFEQTGPYFKREVYHYPNQQRGAILWY 152  97 52 WP_004397739.1 125 KDFEQTGPYFKREVYHYPNQQRGAILWY 152  98 53 WP_019713492.1 125 KDFEQTGPYFKREVYHYPNQQRGAILWY 152  99 54 AGR50961.1 125 KDFEQTGPYFKREVYHYPNQQRGAILWY 152 100 55 YP_007425830.1 127 KDFEQTGPYFKREVYHYPNQQRGAILWY 154 101 56 YP_004206641.1 125 KDFEQTGPYFKREVYHYPNQQRGAILWY 152 102 57 YP_006230497.1 125 KDFEQTGPYFKREVYHYPNQQRGAILWY 152 103 58 EXF51833.1 125 KDFEQTGPYFKREVYHYPNQQRGAILWY 152 104 59 WP_003234000.1 127 KDFEQTGPYFKREVYHYPNQQRGAILWY 154 105 60 YP_006628799.1 127 KDFEQTGPYFKREVYHYPNQQRGAILWY 154 106 61 NP_388511.1 125 KDFEQTGPYFKREVYHYPNQQRGAILWY 152 107 62 YP_007661398.1 125 KDFEQTGPYFKREVYHYPNQQRGAILWY 152 108 63 4AKQ_A 125 KDFEQTGPYFKREVYHYPNQQRGAILWY 152 109 64 4A68_A 125 KDFEQTGPYFKREVYHYPNQQRGAILWY 152 110 65 4A66_A 125 KDFEQTGPYFKREVYHYPNQQRGAILWY 152 111 66 AC544284.1 125 KDFEQTGPYFKREVYHYPNQQRGAILWY 152 112 67 AGK12417.1 125 KDLEQTGPYFKREVYHYPNQQRGAILWY 152 113 68 2X87_A 125 KDFEQTGPYFKREVYHYPNQQRGAILWY 152 114 69 AFN66123.1 125 KDFEQTGPYFKREVYHYPNQQRGAILWY 152 115 70 4A67_A 125 KDFEQTGPYFKREVYHYPNQQRGAILWY 152 116 71 2WSD_A 125 KDFEQTGPYFKREVYHYPNQQRGAILWY 152 117 72 4AKP_A 125 KDFEQTGPYFKREVYHYPNQQRGAILWY 152 118 73 ACM46021.1 125 KDFEQTGPYFKREVYHYPNQQRGAILWY 152 119 74 WP_010329056.1 125 KDFEQTGPYFKREIYHYPNQQRGAILWY 152 120 75 AEK80414.1 125 KDFEQTGPYFKREVYHYPNQQRGAILWY 152 121 76 WP_010333230.1 125 KDFEQTGPYFKREVYHYPNQQRGAILWY 152 122 77 4AKO_A 121 KDFEQTGPYFKREVYHYPNQQRGAILWY 148 123 78 AAB62305.1 125 KDFEQTGPYFKREVYHYPNQQRGAILWY 152 124 79 YP_003972023.1 125 KGFQETGPYFSREIYHYPNQQRGAILWY 152 125 80 WP_010787813.1 125 KGFQETGPYFSREIYHYPNQQRGAILWY 152 126 81 WP_007609818.1 125 KDFKETGPYFEKEVYHYPNKQRGALLWY 152 127 82 YP_007496315.1 125 KDFKETGPYFEREVYHYPNKQRGALLWY 152 128 83 YP_005419918.1 125 KDFKETGPYFEKEVYHYPNKQRGALLWY 152 129 84 YP_008625231.1 125 KDFKETGPYFEKEVYHYPNKQRGALLWY 152 130 85 YP_007185316.1 125 KDFKETGPYFEREVYHYPNKQRGALLWY 152 131 86 YP_001420286.1 125 KDFKETGPYFEREVYHYPNKQRGALLWY 152 132 87 ADZ57286.1 125 KDFKETGPYFEKEVYHYPNKQRGALLWY 152 133 88 WP_007408880.1 125 KDFKETGPYFEREVYHYPNKQRGALLWY 152 134 89 WP_021495201.1 125 KDFKETGPYFEKEVYHYPNKQRGALLWY 152 135 90 YP_005129370.1 125 KDFKETGPYFEKEVYHYPNKQRGALLWY 152 136 91 AHK48246.1 125 KDFKETGPYFEREVYHYPNKQRGALLWY 152 137 92 YP_003919218.1 125 RDFKEKGPYFEKEVYHYPNKQRGALLWY 152 138 93 WP_016937040.1 125 RDFKETGPYFEKEVYHYPNKQRGALLWY 152 139 94

TABLE 5 Sequences of SEQ ID NOS: 1-24. SEQ ID NO: Name Organism Sequence  1 Cot1 Bacillus MTLEKFVDALPIPDTLKPVQQTTEKTYYEVTMEECAHQLHRDLPPTRLW subtilis GYNGLFPGPTIEVKRNENVYVKWMNNLPSEHFLPIDHTIHHSDSQHEEP EVKTVVHLHGGVTPDDSDGYPEAWFSKDFEQTGPYFKREVYHYPNQQRG AILWYHDHAMALTRLNVYAGLVGAYIIHDPKEKRLKLPSGEYDVPLLIT DRTINEDGSLFYPSGPENPSPSLPKPSIVPAFCGDTILVNGKVWPYLEV EPRKYRFRVINASNTRTYNLSLDNGGEFIQIGSDGGLLPRSVKLNSFSL APAERYDIIIDFTAYEGESIILANSEGCGGDANPETDANIMQFRVTKPL AQKDESRKPKYLASYPSVQNERIQNIRTLKLAGTQDEYGRPVLLLNNKR WHDPVTEAPKAGTTEIWSIVNPTQGTHPIHLHLVSFRVLDRRPFDIARY QERGELSYTGPAVPPPPSEKGWKDTIQAHAGEVLRIAVTFGPYSGRYVW HCHILEHEDYDMMRPMDITDPHK  2 Cot2 Bacillus MTLEKFVDALPIPDTLKPVQQSKEKTYYEVTMEECTHQLHRDLPPTRLW subtilis GYNGLFPGPTIEVKRNENVYVKWMNNLPSTHFLPIDHTIHHSDSQHEEP EVKTVVHLHGGVTPDDSDGYPEAWFSKDFEQTGPYFKREVYHYPNQQRG AILWYHDHAMALTRLNVYAGLVGAYIIHDPKEKRLKLPSEEYDVPLLIT DRTINEDGSLFYPSGPENPSPSLPNPSIVPAFCGETILVNGKVWPYLEV EPRKYRFRVINASNTRTYNLSLDNGGEFIQIGSDGGLLPRSVKLTSFSL APAERYDIIIDFTAYEGQSIILANSAGCGGDVNPETDANIMQFRVTKPL AQKDESRKPKYLASYPSVQNERIQNIRTLKLAGTQDEYGRPVLLLNNKR WHDPVTEAPKAGTTEIWSIINPTRGTHPIHLHLVSFRVIDRRPFDIAHY QESGALSYTGPAVPPPPSEKGWKDTIQAHAGEVLRIAATFGPYSGRYVW HCHILEHEDYDMMRPMDITDPHKSDPNSSSVDKLHRTRAPPPPPLRSGC  3 Cot1 Bacillus MTLEKFVDALPIPDTLKPVQQTTEKTYYEVTMEECAHQLHRDLPPTRLW 149T subtilis GYNGLFPGPTIEVKRNENVYVKWMNNLPSERFLPIDHTIHHSDSQHEEP EVKTVVHLHGGVTPDDSDGYPEAWFSKDFEQTGPYFKREVYHYPNQQRG ATLWYHDHAMALTRLNVYAGLVGAYIIHDPKEKRLKLPSGEYDVPLLIT DRTINEDGSLFYPSGPENPSPSLPKPSIVPAFCGDTILVNGKVWPYLEV EPRKYRFRVINASNTRTYNLSLDNGGEFIQIGSDGGLLPRSVKLNSFSL APAERYDIIIDFTAYEGESIILANSEGCGGDANPETDANIMQFRVTKPL AQKDESRKPKYLASYPSVQNERIQNIRTLKLAGTQDEYGRPVLLLNNKR WHDPVTEAPKAGTTEIWSIVNPTQGTHPIHLHLVSFRVLDRRPFDIARY QERGELSYTGPAVPPPPSEKGWKDTIQAHAGEVLRIAVTFGPYSGRYVW HCHILEHEDYDMMRPMDITDPHK  4 Cot2 Bacillus MTLEKFVDALPIPDTLKPVQQSKEKTYYEVTMEECTHQLHRDLPPTRLW 149T subtilis GYNGLFPGPTIEVKRNENVYVKWMNNLPSTHFLPIDHTIHHSDSQHEEP EVKTVVHLHGGVTPDDSDGYPEAWFSKDFEQTGPYFKREVYHYPNQQRG ATLWYHDHAMALTRLNVYAGLVGAYIIHDPKEKRLKLPSEEYDVPLLIT DRTINEDGSLFYPSGPENPSPSLPNPSIVPAFCGETILVNGKVWPYLEV EPRKYRFRVINASNTRTYNLSLDNGGEFIQIGSDGGLLPRSVKLTSFSL APAERYDIIIDFTAYEGQSIILANSAGCGGDVNPETDANIMQFRVTKPL AQKDESRKPKYLASYPSVQNERIQNIRTLKLAGTQDEYGRPVLLLNNKR WHDPVTEAPKAGTTEIWSIINPTRGTHPIHLHLVSFRVIDRRPFDIAHY QESGALSYTGPAVPPPPSEKGWKDTIQAHAGEVLRIAATFGPYSGRYVW HCHILEHEDYDMMRPMDITDPHKSDPNSSSVDKLHRTRAPPPPPLRSGC  5 seq 61 Bacillus MALEKFADELPIIETLQPQKKSDGSTYYEVTMKECFHKLHRDLPPTRLW amylo- GYNGLFPGPTIDVNKDENVYIKWMNDLPDKHFLPVDHTIHHSESGHQEP liquefaciens DVKTVVHLHGGATPPDSDGYPEAWFTKDFKETGPYFEREVYHYPNKQRG ALLWYHDHAMAITRLNVYAGLAGMYIIRERKEKQLKLPSGEYDVPLMIL DRTLNDDGSLSYPSGPANPSETLPDPSIVPFFCGNTILVNGKAWPYMEV EPRTYRFRILNASNTRTFSLSLNNGGKFIQIGSDGGLLPRSVKTQSISL APAERYDVLIDFSAFDGEHIILTNGTGCGGDADPDTDANVMQFRVTKPL KGADTSRKPKYLSTMPNVTSKRIHNIRMLKLTNTQDKYGRPVLTLNNKR WHDPVTEAPKLGTTEIWSIINPMGGTHPIHLHLVSFQILDRRPFDLERY NKFGDIVYTGPAVPPPPSEKGWKDTVQAHSGEVIRIAATFAPYSGRYVW HCHILEHEDYDMMRPMDVTDKQ  6 seq 61 Bacillus MALEKFADELPIIETLQPQKKSDGSTYYEVTMKECFHKLHRDLPPTRLW 149T amylo- GYNGLFPGPTIDVNKDENVYIKWMNDLPDKHFLPVDHTIHHSESGHQEP liquefaciens DVKTVVHLHGGATPPDSDGYPEAWFTKDFKETGPYFEREVYHYPNKQRG ATLWYHDHAMAITRLNVYAGLAGMYIIRERKEKQLKLPSGEYDVPLMIL DRTLNDDGSLSYPSGPANPSETLPDPSIVPFFCGNTILVNGKAWPYMEV EPRTYRFRILNASNTRTFSLSLNNGGKFIQIGSDGGLLPRSVKTQSISL APAERYDVLIDFSAFDGEHIILTNGTGCGGDADPDTDANVMQFRVTKPL KGADTSRKPKYLSTMPNVTSKRIHNIRMLKLTNTQDKYGRPVLTLNNKR WHDPVTEAPKLGTTEIWSIINPMGGTHPIHLHLVSFQILDRRPFDLERY NKFGDIVYTGPAVPPPPSEKGWKDTVQAHSGEVIRIAATFAPYSGRYVW HCHILEHEDYDMMRPMDVTDKQ  7 seq 61 Bacillus MALEKFADELPIIETLQPQKKSDGSTYYEVTMKECFHKLHRDLPPTRLW 149P amylo- GYNGLFPGPTIDVNKDENVYIKWMNDLPDKHFLPVDHTIHHSESGHQEP liquefaciens DVKTVVHLHGGATPPDSDGYPEAWFTKDFKETGPYFEREVYHYPNKQRG APLWYHDHAMAITRLNVYAGLAGMYIIRERKEKQLKLPSGEYDVPLMIL DRTLNDDGSLSYPSGPANPSETLPDPSIVPFFCGNTILVNGKAWPYMEV EPRTYRFRILNASNTRTFSLSLNNGGKFIQIGSDGGLLPRSVKTQSISL APAERYDVLIDFSAFDGEHIILTNGTGCGGDADPDTDANVMQFRVTKPL KGADTSRKPKYLSTMPNVTSKRIHNIRMLKLTNTQDKYGRPVLTLNNKR WHDPVTEAPKLGTTEIWSIINPMGGTHPIHLHLVSFQILDRRPFDLERY NKFGDIVYTGPAVPPPPSEKGWKDTVQAHSGEVIRIAATFAPYSGRYVW HCHILEHEDYDMMRPMDVTDKQ  8 seq 61 Bacillus MALEKFADELPIIETLQPQKKSDGSTYYEVTMKECFHKLHRDLPPTRLW 149A amylo- GYNGLFPGPTIDVNKDENVYIKWMNDLPDKHFLPVDHTIHHSESGHQEP liquefaciens DVKTVVHLHGGATPPDSDGYPEAWFTKDFKETGPYFEREVYHYPNKQRG AALWYHDHAMAITRLNVYAGLAGMYIIRERKEKQLKLPSGEYDVPLMIL DRTLNDDGSLSYPSGPANPSETLPDPSIVPFFCGNTILVNGKAWPYMEV EPRTYRFRILNASNTRTFSLSLNNGGKFIQIGSDGGLLPRSVKTQSISL APAERYDVLIDFSAFDGEHIILTNGTGCGGDADPDTDANVMQFRVTKPL KGADTSRKPKYLSTMPNVTSKRIHNIRMLKLTNTQDKYGRPVLTLNNKR WHDPVTEAPKLGTTEIWSIINPMGGTHPIHLHLVSFQILDRRPFDLERY NKFGDIVYTGPAVPPPPSEKGWKDTVQAHSGEVIRIAATFAPYSGRYVW HCHILEHEDYDMMRPMDVTDKQ  9 seq 61 Bacillus MALEKFADELPIIETLQPQKKSDGSTYYEVTMKECFHKLHRDLPPTRLW 149G amylo- GYNGLFPGPTIDVNKDENVYIKWMNDLPDKHFLPVDHTIHHSESGHQEP liquefaciens DVKTVVHLHGGATPPDSDGYPEAWFTKDFKETGPYFEREVYHYPNKQRG AGLWYHDHAMAITRLNVYAGLAGMYIIRERKEKQLKLPSGEYDVPLMIL DRTLNDDGSLSYPSGPANPSETLPDPSIVPFFCGNTILVNGKAWPYMEV EPRTYRFRILNASNTRTFSLSLNNGGKFIQIGSDGGLLPRSVKTQSISL APAERYDVLIDFSAFDGEHIILTNGTGCGGDADPDTDANVMQFRVTKPL KGADTSRKPKYLSTMPNVTSKRIHNIRMLKLTNTQDKYGRPVLTLNNKR WHDPVTEAPKLGTTEIWSIINPMGGTHPIHLHLVSFQILDRRPFDLERY NKFGDIVYTGPAVPPPPSEKGWKDTVQAHSGEVIRIAATFAPYSGRYVW HCHILEHEDYDMMRPMDVTDKQ 10 seq 61 Bacillus MALEKFADELPIIETLQPQKKSDGSTYYEVTMKECFHKLHRDLPPTRLW 149S amylo- GYNGLFPGPTIDVNKDENVYIKWMNDLPDKHFLPVDHTIHHSESGHQEP liquefaciens DVKTVVHLHGGATPPDSDGYPEAWFTKDFKETGPYFEREVYHYPNKQRG ASLWYHDHAMAITRLNVYAGLAGMYIIRERKEKQLKLPSGEYDVPLMIL DRTLNDDGSLSYPSGPANPSETLPDPSIVPFFCGNTILVNGKAWPYMEV EPRTYRFRILNASNTRTFSLSLNNGGKFIQIGSDGGLLPRSVKTQSISL APAERYDVLIDFSAFDGEHIILTNGTGCGGDADPDTDANVMQFRVTKPL KGADTSRKPKYLSTMPNVTSKRIHNIRMLKLTNTQDKYGRPVLTLNNKR WHDPVTEAPKLGTTEIWSIINPMGGTHPIHLHLVSFQILDRRPFDLERY NKFGDIVYTGPAVPPPPSEKGWKDTVQAHSGEVIRIAATFAPYSGRYVW HCHILEHEDYDMMRPMDVTDKQ 11 seq 61 Bacillus MALEKFADELPIIETLQPQKKSDGSTYYEVTMKECFHKLHRDLPPTRLW 149C amylo- GYNGLFPGPTIDVNKDENVYIKWMNDLPDKHFLPVDHTIHHSESGHQEP liquefaciens DVKTVVHLHGGATPPDSDGYPEAWFTKDFKETGPYFEREVYHYPNKQRG ACLWYHDHAMAITRLNVYAGLAGMYIIRERKEKQLKLPSGEYDVPLMIL DRTLNDDGSLSYPSGPANPSETLPDPSIVPFFCGNTILVNGKAWPYMEV EPRTYRFRILNASNTRTFSLSLNNGGKFIQIGSDGGLLPRSVKTQSISL APAERYDVLIDFSAFDGEHIILTNGTGCGGDADPDTDANVMQFRVTKPL KGADTSRKPKYLSTMPNVTSKRIHNIRMLKLTNTQDKYGRPVLTLNNKR WHDPVTEAPKLGTTEIWSIINPMGGTHPIHLHLVSFQILDRRPFDLERY NKFGDIVYTGPAVPPPPSEKGWKDTVQAHSGEVIRIAATFAPYSGRYVW HCHILEHEDYDMMRPMDVTDKQ 12 seq 61 Bacillus MALEKFADELPIIETLQPQKKSDGSTYYEVTMKECFHKLHRDLPPTRLW 149D amylo- GYNGLFPGPTIDVNKDENVYIKWMNDLPDKHFLPVDHTIHHSESGHQEP liquefaciens DVKTVVHLHGGATPPDSDGYPEAWFTKDFKETGPYFEREVYHYPNKQRG ADLWYHDHAMAITRLNVYAGLAGMYIIRERKEKQLKLPSGEYDVPLMIL DRTLNDDGSLSYPSGPANPSETLPDPSIVPFFCGNTILVNGKAWPYMEV EPRTYRFRILNASNTRTFSLSLNNGGKFIQIGSDGGLLPRSVKTQSISL APAERYDVLIDFSAFDGEHIILTNGTGCGGDADPDTDANVMQFRVTKPL KGADTSRKPKYLSTMPNVTSKRIHNIRMLKLTNTQDKYGRPVLTLNNKR WHDPVTEAPKLGTTEIWSIINPMGGTHPIHLHLVSFQILDRRPFDLERY NKFGDIVYTGPAVPPPPSEKGWKDTVQAHSGEVIRIAATFAPYSGRYVW HCHILEHEDYDMMRPMDVTDKQ 13 seq 61 Bacillus MALEKFADELPIIETLQPQKKSDGSTYYEVTMKECFHKLHRDLPPTRLW 149N amylo- GYNGLFPGPTIDVNKDENVYIKWMNDLPDKHFLPVDHTIHHSESGHQEP liquefaciens DVKTVVHLHGGATPPDSDGYPEAWFTKDFKETGPYFEREVYHYPNKQRG ANLWYHDHAMAITRLNVYAGLAGMYIIRERKEKQLKLPSGEYDVPLMIL DRTLNDDGSLSYPSGPANPSETLPDPSIVPFFCGNTILVNGKAWPYMEV EPRTYRFRILNASNTRTFSLSLNNGGKFIQIGSDGGLLPRSVKTQSISL APAERYDVLIDFSAFDGEHIILTNGTGCGGDADPDTDANVMQFRVTKPL KGADTSRKPKYLSTMPNVTSKRIHNIRMLKLTNTQDKYGRPVLTLNNKR WHDPVTEAPKLGTTEIWSIINPMGGTHPIHLHLVSFQILDRRPFDLERY NKFGDIVYTGPAVPPPPSEKGWKDTVQAHSGEVIRIAATFAPYSGRYVW HCHILEHEDYDMMRPMDVTDKQ 14 seq 61 Bacillus MALEKFADELPIIETLQPQKKSDGSTYYEVTMKECFHKLHRDLPPTRLW 149V amylo- GYNGLFPGPTIDVNKDENVYIKWMNDLPDKHFLPVDHTIHHSESGHQEP liquefaciens DVKTVVHLHGGATPPDSDGYPEAWFTKDFKETGPYFEREVYHYPNKQRG AVLWYHDHAMAITRLNVYAGLAGMYIIRERKEKQLKLPSGEYDVPLMIL DRTLNDDGSLSYPSGPANPSETLPDPSIVPFFCGNTILVNGKAWPYMEV EPRTYRFRILNASNTRTFSLSLNNGGKFIQIGSDGGLLPRSVKTQSISL APAERYDVLIDFSAFDGEHIILTNGTGCGGDADPDTDANVMQFRVTKPL KGADTSRKPKYLSTMPNVTSKRIHNIRMLKLTNTQDKYGRPVLTLNNKR WHDPVTEAPKLGTTEIWSIINPMGGTHPIHLHLVSFQILDRRPFDLERY NKFGDIVYTGPAVPPPPSEKGWKDTVQAHSGEVIRIAATFAPYSGRYVW HCHILEHEDYDMMRPMDVTDKQ 15 Seq 49 Bacillus MTLEKFVDALPIPETLKPVQQTKEKTYYEVTMEECAHKLHRDLPPTRLW vallismortis GYNCQFPGPTIEVNRNENVYVKWMNHLSSTHFLPVDHTIHRSDSQHEEP EVKTVVHLHGGVTPEDSDGYPEAWFTKDFEQTGPYFKREIYHYPNQQRG AILWYHDHAMALTRLNVYAGLIGAYLIHDPKEKRLKLPSGEYDVPLLIT DRTINGDGSLFYPNGPENPSPSLPNPSIVPAFCGETILVNGKAWPYLEV EPRKYRFRVINASNTRTYNLSLDNDGEFIQIGSDGGLLPRSVKLNSFSL APAERYDIIIDFTAYEGQSIILANSEGCGGDANPETDANIMQFRVTKPL AQKDESRKPKYLASYPSVQNERIHNIRTLKLAGTQDEYGRPVLLLNNKR WHDPVTETPKAGTTEIWSIINPTRGTHPIHLHLVSFRVLDRRPFDIARY QERGELSYTGPAVPPPPSEKGWKDTIQAHAGEVLRIAATFGPYSGRYVW HCHILEHEDYDMMRPMDITDPHK 16 Seq 49 Bacillus MTLEKFVDALPIPETLKPVQQTKEKTYYEVTMEECAHKLHRDLPPTRLW 149T vallismortis GYNCQFPGPTIEVNRNENVYVKWMNHLSSTHFLPVDHTIHRSDSQHEEP EVKTVVHLHGGVTPEDSDGYPEAWFTKDFEQTGPYFKREIYHYPNQQRG ATLWYHDHAMALTRLNVYAGLIGAYLIHDPKEKRLKLPSGEYDVPLLIT DRTINGDGSLFYPNGPENPSPSLPNPSIVPAFCGETILVNGKAWPYLEV EPRKYRFRVINASNTRTYNLSLDNDGEFIQIGSDGGLLPRSVKLNSFSL APAERYDIIIDFTAYEGQSIILANSEGCGGDANPETDANIMQFRVTKPL AQKDESRKPKYLASYPSVQNERIHNIRTLKLAGTQDEYGRPVLLLNNKR WHDPVTETPKAGTTEIWSIINPTRGTHPIHLHLVSFRVLDRRPFDIARY QERGELSYTGPAVPPPPSEKGWKDTIQAHAGEVLRIAATFGPYSGRYVW HCHILEHEDYDMMRPMDITDPHK 17 Seq 49 Bacillus MTLEKFVDALPIPETLKPVQQTKEKTYYEVTMEECAHKLHRDLPPTRLW 149P vallismortis GYNCQFPGPTIEVNRNENVYVKWMNHLSSTHFLPVDHTIHRSDSQHEEP EVKTVVHLHGGVTPEDSDGYPEAWFTKDFEQTGPYFKREIYHYPNQQRG APLWYHDHAMALTRLNVYAGLIGAYLIHDPKEKRLKLPSGEYDVPLLIT DRTINGDGSLFYPNGPENPSPSLPNPSIVPAFCGETILVNGKAWPYLEV EPRKYRFRVINASNTRTYNLSLDNDGEFIQIGSDGGLLPRSVKLNSFSL APAERYDIIIDFTAYEGQSIILANSEGCGGDANPETDANIMQFRVTKPL AQKDESRKPKYLASYPSVQNERIHNIRTLKLAGTQDEYGRPVLLLNNKR WHDPVTETPKAGTTEIWSIINPTRGTHPIHLHLVSFRVLDRRPFDIARY QERGELSYTGPAVPPPPSEKGWKDTIQAHAGEVLRIAATFGPYSGRYVW HCHILEHEDYDMMRPMDITDPHK 18 Seq 49 Bacillus MTLEKFVDALPIPETLKPVQQTKEKTYYEVTMEECAHKLHRDLPPTRLW 149A vallismortis GYNCQFPGPTIEVNRNENVYVKWMNHLSSTHFLPVDHTIHRSDSQHEEP EVKTVVHLHGGVTPEDSDGYPEAWFTKDFEQTGPYFKREIYHYPNQQRG AALWYHDHAMALTRLNVYAGLIGAYLIHDPKEKRLKLPSGEYDVPLLIT DRTINGDGSLFYPNGPENPSPSLPNPSIVPAFCGETILVNGKAWPYLEV EPRKYRFRVINASNTRTYNLSLDNDGEFIQIGSDGGLLPRSVKLNSFSL APAERYDIIIDFTAYEGQSIILANSEGCGGDANPETDANIMQFRVTKPL AQKDESRKPKYLASYPSVQNERIHNIRTLKLAGTQDEYGRPVLLLNNKR WHDPVTETPKAGTTEIWSIINPTRGTHPIHLHLVSFRVLDRRPFDIARY QERGELSYTGPAVPPPPSEKGWKDTIQAHAGEVLRIAATFGPYSGRYVW HCHILEHEDYDMMRPMDITDPHK 19 Seq 49 Bacillus MTLEKFVDALPIPETLKPVQQTKEKTYYEVTMEECAHKLHRDLPPTRLW 149G vallismortis GYNCQFPGPTIEVNRNENVYVKWMNHLSSTHFLPVDHTIHRSDSQHEEP EVKTVVHLHGGVTPEDSDGYPEAWFTKDFEQTGPYFKREIYHYPNQQRG AGLWYHDHAMALTRLNVYAGLIGAYLIHDPKEKRLKLPSGEYDVPLLIT DRTINGDGSLFYPNGPENPSPSLPNPSIVPAFCGETILVNGKAWPYLEV EPRKYRFRVINASNTRTYNLSLDNDGEFIQIGSDGGLLPRSVKLNSFSL APAERYDIIIDFTAYEGQSIILANSEGCGGDANPETDANIMQFRVTKPL AQKDESRKPKYLASYPSVQNERIHNIRTLKLAGTQDEYGRPVLLLNNKR WHDPVTETPKAGTTEIWSIINPTRGTHPIHLHLVSFRVLDRRPFDIARY QERGELSYTGPAVPPPPSEKGWKDTIQAHAGEVLRIAATFGPYSGRYVW HCHILEHEDYDMMRPMDITDPHK 20 Seq 49 Bacillus MTLEKFVDALPIPETLKPVQQTKEKTYYEVTMEECAHKLHRDLPPTRLW 149S vallismortis GYNCQFPGPTIEVNRNENVYVKWMNHLSSTHFLPVDHTIHRSDSQHEEP EVKTVVHLHGGVTPEDSDGYPEAWFTKDFEQTGPYFKREIYHYPNQQRG ASLWYHDHAMALTRLNVYAGLIGAYLIHDPKEKRLKLPSGEYDVPLLIT DRTINGDGSLFYPNGPENPSPSLPNPSIVPAFCGETILVNGKAWPYLEV EPRKYRFRVINASNTRTYNLSLDNDGEFIQIGSDGGLLPRSVKLNSFSL APAERYDIIIDFTAYEGQSIILANSEGCGGDANPETDANIMQFRVTKPL AQKDESRKPKYLASYPSVQNERIHNIRTLKLAGTQDEYGRPVLLLNNKR WHDPVTETPKAGTTEIWSIINPTRGTHPIHLHLVSFRVLDRRPFDIARY QERGELSYTGPAVPPPPSEKGWKDTIQAHAGEVLRIAATFGPYSGRYVW HCHILEHEDYDMMRPMDITDPHK 21 Seq 49 Bacillus MTLEKFVDALPIPETLKPVQQTKEKTYYEVTMEECAHKLHRDLPPTRLW 149C vallismortis GYNCQFPGPTIEVNRNENVYVKWMNHLSSTHFLPVDHTIHRSDSQHEEP EVKTVVHLHGGVTPEDSDGYPEAWFTKDFEQTGPYFKREIYHYPNQQRG ACLWYHDHAMALTRLNVYAGLIGAYLIHDPKEKRLKLPSGEYDVPLLIT DRTINGDGSLFYPNGPENPSPSLPNPSIVPAFCGETILVNGKAWPYLEV EPRKYRFRVINASNTRTYNLSLDNDGEFIQIGSDGGLLPRSVKLNSFSL APAERYDIIIDFTAYEGQSIILANSEGCGGDANPETDANIMQFRVTKPL AQKDESRKPKYLASYPSVQNERIHNIRTLKLAGTQDEYGRPVLLLNNKR WHDPVTETPKAGTTEIWSIINPTRGTHPIHLHLVSFRVLDRRPFDIARY QERGELSYTGPAVPPPPSEKGWKDTIQAHAGEVLRIAATFGPYSGRYVW HCHILEHEDYDMMRPMDITDPHK 22 Seq 49 Bacillus MTLEKFVDALPIPETLKPVQQTKEKTYYEVTMEECAHKLHRDLPPTRLW 149D vallismortis GYNCQFPGPTIEVNRNENVYVKWMNHLSSTHFLPVDHTIHRSDSQHEEP EVKTVVHLHGGVTPEDSDGYPEAWFTKDFEQTGPYFKREIYHYPNQQRG ADLWYHDHAMALTRLNVYAGLIGAYLIHDPKEKRLKLPSGEYDVPLLIT DRTINGDGSLFYPNGPENPSPSLPNPSIVPAFCGETILVNGKAWPYLEV EPRKYRFRVINASNTRTYNLSLDNDGEFIQIGSDGGLLPRSVKLNSFSL APAERYDIIIDFTAYEGQSIILANSEGCGGDANPETDANIMQFRVTKPL AQKDESRKPKYLASYPSVQNERIHNIRTLKLAGTQDEYGRPVLLLNNKR WHDPVTETPKAGTTEIWSIINPTRGTHPIHLHLVSFRVLDRRPFDIARY QERGELSYTGPAVPPPPSEKGWKDTIQAHAGEVLRIAATFGPYSGRYVW HCHILEHEDYDMMRPMDITDPHK 23 Seq 49 Bacillus MTLEKFVDALPIPETLKPVQQTKEKTYYEVTMEECAHKLHRDLPPTRLW 149N vallismortis GYNCQFPGPTIEVNRNENVYVKWMNHLSSTHFLPVDHTIHRSDSQHEEP EVKTVVHLHGGVTPEDSDGYPEAWFTKDFEQTGPYFKREIYHYPNQQRG ANLWYHDHAMALTRLNVYAGLIGAYLIHDPKEKRLKLPSGEYDVPLLIT DRTINGDGSLFYPNGPENPSPSLPNPSIVPAFCGETILVNGKAWPYLEV EPRKYRFRVINASNTRTYNLSLDNDGEFIQIGSDGGLLPRSVKLNSFSL APAERYDIIIDFTAYEGQSIILANSEGCGGDANPETDANIMQFRVTKPL AQKDESRKPKYLASYPSVQNERIHNIRTLKLAGTQDEYGRPVLLLNNKR WHDPVTETPKAGTTEIWSIINPTRGTHPIHLHLVSFRVLDRRPFDIARY QERGELSYTGPAVPPPPSEKGWKDTIQAHAGEVLRIAATFGPYSGRYVW HCHILEHEDYDMMRPMDITDPHK 24 Seq 49 Bacillus MTLEKFVDALPIPETLKPVQQTKEKTYYEVTMEECAHKLHRDLPPTRLW 149V vallismortis GYNCQFPGPTIEVNRNENVYVKWMNHLSSTHFLPVDHTIHHSDSQHEEP EVKTVVHLHGGVTPEDSDGYPEAWFTKDFEQTGPYFKREIYHYPNQQRG AVLWYHDHAMALTRLNVYAGLIGAYLIHDPKEKRLKLPSGEYDVPLLIT DRTINGDGSLFYPNGPENPSPSLPNPSIVPAFCGETILVNGKAWPYLEV EPRKYRFRVINASNTRTYNLSLDNDGEFIQIGSDGGLLPRSVKLNSFSL APAERYDIIIDFTAYEGQSIILANSEGCGGDANPETDANIMQFRVTKPL AQKDESRKPKYLASYPSVQNERIHNIRTLKLAGTQDEYGRPVLLLNNKR WHDPVTETPKAGTTEIWSIINPTRGTHPIHLHLVSFRVLDRRPFDIARY QERGELSYTGPAVPPPPSEKGWKDTIQAHAGEVLRIAATFGPYSGRYVW HCHILEHEDYDMMRPMDITDPHK

REFERENCES

-   1. Martins L. O., C. M. Soares, M. M. Pereira, M. Teixeira, T.     Costa, and G. H. Jones, et al. Molecular and biochemical     characterization of a highly stable bacterial laccase that occurs as     a structural component of the Bacillus subtilis endospore coat. J.     Biol. Chem. 2002, 277:18849-59. -   2. Bento I., L. O. Martins, G. Gato Lopes, M. Arménia Carrondo,     and P. F. Lindley. Dioxygen reduction by multi-copper oxidases: a     structural perspective. Dalton Trans 2005, 21:3507-13. -   3. Brissos V., L. Pereira, F. D. Munteanu, A. Cavaco-Paulo,     and L. O. Martins. Expression system of CotA-laccase for directed     evolution and high-throughput screenings for the oxidation of     high-redox potential dyes. Biotechnol. J. 2009, 4:558-63. -   4. Suzuki T., K. Endo, M. Ito, H. Tsujibo, K. Miyamoto, and Y.     Inamori. A thermostable laccase from Streptomyces lavendulae REN-7:     purification, characterization, nucleotide sequence and expression.     Biosci. Biotechnol. Biochem. 2003, 67:2167-75. -   5. Kumar et al., “Combined sequence and structure analysis of the     fungal laccase family,” Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2003, 83:386-394. -   6. Morozova et al., “Blue laccases,” Biochemistry (Moscow), 2007,     72:1136-1150. -   7. Cantarella et al., “Determination of laccase activity in mixed     solvents: Comparison between two chromogens in a spectrophotometric     assay,” Biotechnology and Bioengineering, 2003, V. 82(4):395-398. -   8. Methods in Molecular Biology, 2002, vol. 182, “In vitro     mutagenesis protocols,” eds. Jeff Braman, Humana Press. 

The invention claimed is:
 1. A polypeptide variant with laccase activity consisting of an amino acid sequence that is at least 90% identical to the amino acid sequence according to SEQ ID NO: 1, wherein the polypeptide comprises a small amino acid residue selected from the group consisting of threonine, proline, alanine, glycine, serine, cysteine, aspartic acid, asparagine and valine at an amino acid position corresponding to position 149 in SEQ ID NO:
 1. 2. The polypeptide of claim 1, wherein the small amino acid residue is a threonine residue.
 3. The polypeptide of claim 1, wherein the polypeptide comprises an amino acid sequence that is at least 94% identical to an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOS: 51-75 and SEQ ID NOS: 80-94.
 4. The polypeptide of claim 1, wherein the polypeptide is an isolated polypeptide.
 5. A composition comprising the polypeptide of claim
 1. 6. A nucleic acid encoding the polypeptide of claim
 1. 7. A vector comprising the nucleic acid of claim
 6. 8. A composition comprising the nucleic acid of claim
 6. 9. A recombinant host cell comprising a nucleic acid according to claim
 6. 10. The recombinant host cell according to claim 9, wherein the host cell is selected from the group consisting of Escherichia coli, Bacillus, Corynebacterium, Pseudomonas, Pichia pastoris, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Yarrowia lipolytica, filamentous fungi, yeast, and insect cells.
 11. A method for producing a polypeptide variant with laccase activity, comprising the steps of: culturing a recombinant host cell according to claim 9 under conditions suitable for the production of the polypeptide, and recovering the polypeptide obtained, and optionally purifying said polypeptide.
 12. A method of utilizing the polypeptide of claim 1, the method comprising, utilizing the polypeptide in an application selected from the group consisting of pulp delignification, degrading or decreasing the structural integrity of lignocellulosic material, textile dye bleaching, wastewater detoxification, xenobiotic detoxification, production of a sugar from a lignocellulosic material and recovering cellulose from a biomass.
 13. A method of improving the yield of a polypeptide with laccase activity in a heterologous expression system, the method comprising, altering the amino acid sequence of the polypeptide at a position corresponding to position 149 in SEQ ID NO: 1 to a small amino acid residue selected from the group consisting of threonine, proline, alanine, glycine, serine, cysteine, aspartic acid, asparagine, and valine; wherein the polypeptide consists of an amino acid sequence that is at least 90% identical to the amino acid sequence according to SEQ ID NO:
 1. 14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the polypeptide with laccase activity is a spore coat protein.
 15. Method according to claim 13, wherein the small amino acid is a threonine residue.
 16. A recombinant host cell comprising the vector of claim
 7. 17. A recombinant host cell comprising the composition of claim
 8. 18. A composition comprising the vector according of claim
 7. 19. The method according to claim 14, wherein the spore coat protein is a spore coat protein from a Bacillus species.
 20. The method according to claim 19, wherein the Bacillus species is Bacillus subtilis.
 21. A method of utilizing the composition of claim 5, the method comprising, utilizing the composition in an application selected from the group consisting of pulp delignification, degrading or decreasing the structural integrity of lignocellulosic material, textile dye bleaching, wastewater detoxification, xenobiotic detoxification, production of a sugar from a lignocellulosic material, and recovering cellulose from a biomass. 